TKR Nanners adventure to the other side

[Nanners]

I am doing okay. Still having lots of swelling and stiffness and trying not to push myself as hard as the PT & OT's were at the rehab. That was such a miserable experience that I told my hubby if I ever had to the other knee replaced I will NOT go to the rehab center. But recoup at home. These folks were just too gungho.

The guy I had at the hospital was great, just some gentle walking and checking my extension. Never made me feel afraid or in pain. I still have to sign up for PT & OT but am just giving myself a break for a week to heal and feel less anxious about it all.

Guts are calming down now, and having less explosive diarhea. Get staples out tomorrow! Whoo Hoo!! Look forward to feeling better soon. Hugs!

 

[Nyland]

You poor dear! What a rough time you are having. I hope you have better days very, very soon. BIG HUG!!!!

 

[Jacky48]

Good luck with the staple removal tomorrow! I hope all goes well and your recovery gets smoother!

Get well soon my BoneSmartie friend!

 

[KathyH]

You are doing fine, Gail. I was like you and worried because I wasn't doing physiotherapy. I had to cancel my first appointmen at only one week out, as I was just too swollen and stiff to do anything. So it's very re-assuring to hear Jo say that some docs say don't do PT until after three weeks out.

Your hubbie must be a saint to be looking after you at the same time as house training a puppy

 

[Nanners]

Kathy my husband has been great! Although I notice him getting a bit cranky with me here and there. But who wouldn't get cranky with not only dealing with me but a puppy too.

This experience has really been an eye opener. I am so thankful I found bonesmart first or I would be a mess about now. Have had a bit of the blues too, but trying to work my way thru it.

Do the pain meds make you guys all sweaty too? I think that is just about to drive me nuts, all these hot sweats. I am trying to knock the pain meds down just a bit, as I feel too loopy at times. Right now I am taking 1 2mg Dilaudid and 1 Percoset. Seems to be working ok so far with a bit less loopiness.

Hugs
Gail *Nanners*

 

[Limpin'Lizzie]

Hey, Gail....You sound like you're doing well, considering. I know how it is! It's rough. I think pain meds make me sweaty, too. You know I take them for my fibro, and I always have an issue with getting hot.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

But am I doing harm by not doing any PT right now? Should I be doing a little something?

RULE 1. If it hurts, don't do it.

RULE 2. If a highly qualified very experienced and senior person tells you that this time it has to hurt, refer immediately to rule 1.

Anyone give me some advice? Am I just being too hard on myself. Any words of wisdom? If now is not the time for some PT, when is the time to start it up again? Tomorrow will be exactly 2 weeks from my surgery. Thanks and big hugs!

Yes, you are being too hard on yourself.

Words of wisdom? Never draw to an inside straight

PT must not hurt. Gentle stretches (see my sig for some examples) are OK, but if ordinary life and getting about is hurting (as it has every right to do!!) then don't do any more, please.

Rest, ice, elevate, relax, rest, take it easy, watch telly, sit on the couch, rest. And when that tires you out, rest some more.

 

[ladyj]

I am so sorry to hear what a rotten time you had in the hospital and rehab. I thought that with what it costs for health care in the USA that care would be second to none.
I have to say the National Health Service did me proud. My surgeon popped in to see me everyday, even when I wasn't that compos mentis, I had a private room, the nurses were great, and even the food wasn't too bad. There was even a very handsome black guy that used to wake me up with a cup of coffee every morning.
The physio exercises that I have been given are all very gentle and undemanding, and they have worked a treat, so people bullying you and pulling your knee about is obviously not the way to go.
I too have been very fortunate in having a wonderful husband who has looked after me so well, and has done all of the cooking for the last six weeks.
I am starting to do some jobs around the house now, much to his relief, but he has been a wonder.

I love Roy's advice!
Always to be referred to when one has been overdoing it a bit!

 

[Janet2012]

Gail, I had no PT between week 2 when I came home and week three when I started out patient Pt. I did some foot slides and knee bends in bed (very few) and got up and walked for 5 minutes 2-3 times a day. I mostly took it as a chance for healing. You won't put yourself behind.

 

[Nanners]

Thank you LadyJ that was what I needed to hear. I kinda felt that after being tortured in the rehab I deserved a little down time to really rest and recover. I am very tired and even now that I am home I am having a hard time resting as I should. I am laying on the couch watching TV, looking at computer for a bit, just being quiet. I do wake multiple times a night, but I do sleep some too. But I think I need some naps during the day too and I am gonna work on doing that a bit more. And I can't get to PT until I can drive myself, and I am still on too heavy of meds to do that yet.

Got my staples out yesterday. I had 31 one of them. About 7-8 were really painful, but the rest came out pretty easily. Incision looks really good. I also made the mistake of trying to cut down on my pain meds yesterday and by the evening was crying in pain and had to go back to my regular dose with some Percoset for breakthru. Instead of lowering the dose I am going to try to go from every 3 hours to every 4 hours. Maybe that will be a bit more doable. Yes I do need the pain meds, but I am so loopy was trying to ease that up some. But I guess loopy is gonna have to stay for a bit longer.

Thanks again for your support. It means alot to me. I do not know where I would be without all of you. Huggles!

 

[Josephine]

"Being loopy" is our way of making sure a patient stays on the settee and rests! Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of that.

Did you read my recovery? I posted it for you earlier but here it is a again. I did even less than ladyj! Knee recovery - UK style

 

[Nanners]

Yes Jo I did read it again. Good reminder for me! Thanks again

Hey Jo, why do the bruises from the surgery itch so much? Everytime a new bruise pops up it gets really itchy, once it fades the itchiness eases.

 

[clovergirl59]

Nanners,
I'm so sorry that you had to go through such a terrible time. I hope things will improve quickly.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I am laying on the couch watching TV, looking at computer for a bit, just being quiet. I do wake multiple times a night, but I do sleep some too. But I think I need some naps during the day too and I am gonna work on doing that a bit more.

Exactly, proactively doing fanny adams*, perfect recovery programme.

I also made the mistake of trying to cut down on my pain meds yesterday

Indeed. There is no danger of becoming addicted and, as Jo says, being a bit addled helps the time pass.



*means 'nothing' .

 

[ladyj]

Glad to be of help Nanners.
I know people personally who have done very hard and painful exercises to make sure that they have got the right amount of ROM, work in the pool etc, and who have done well subsequently, but I haven't needed to, and my knee is fine.
Obviously some people have more swelling than others and I have been lucky, but even so, there seems to be evidence that gentle exercise, rest and regular icing is very effective, and Josephine and I can testify to that.
It does seem to be an approach that is used more in the UK, where there is much less "hands on" physiotherapy.
At six and a half weeks out, I am still computing, reading, watching TV, and struggling with knitting a very complicated shawl for our daughter's baby that is expected in February.
I do try to go out for a walk everyday, but ice as soon as I get back.
Whatever, it seems to be working.
Enjoy resting.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

And I think, Ladyj, that the general BoneSmart consensus would be that those people recovered in spite of hurting themselves, not because of it.

 

[ladyj]

I'm with you there, Roy.
I just love your advice.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I just love your advice.

Thank you kindly.

 

[Josephine]

Hey Jo, why do the bruises from the surgery itch so much?

Gosh, I wish I knew! It's probably because the old blood irritates the tissues as it is being absorbed. Did you see this article? There's a good treatment for that suggested in there Bruising after surgery.

 

[Nanners]

I saw that article on the witch hazel helping the bruising. But I heard you are not to use witch hazel unless you are off the blood thinners. Which I just finished, but the bruises are about gone now too. Thanks!